Aspiring teacher stabbed to death

Samuel Guidera, 24, was found stabbed to death in Sydenham, south-east London

An aspiring teacher has been stabbed to death in what police think might have been a robbery gone wrong.

Samuel Guidera, 24, was found collapsed at 9.55pm on Saturday in Sydenham, south-east London.

Mr Guidera, a history and politics student at the University of Greenwich, was walking to meet a friend when he was attacked. He was taken to hospital from the scene on Bailey Place at the junction with Newlands Park.

He was pronounced dead an hour later, the Metropolitan Police said. A post-mortem examination will take place later.

Detective Chief Inspector John McFarlane said: "Mr Guidera travelled on the 9.17pm train from Bickley to Penge East. We are keen to speak with anyone who remembers seeing him either on the train or getting off just after 9.30pm.

"Mr Guidera, who was carrying a pink T-mobile carrier bag, crossed over the footbridge towards Newlands Park, en route to meet a friend, when we believe he was attacked.

"We are considering a number of possibilities, but believe this may have been a robbery.

"There would have been a number of people in the area and we are keen to speak with them."

Mr Guidera's family issued a statement saying: "Samuel was a hard working man, who was passionate about his studies. He was also very family orientated. We are devastated and cannot understand why this has happened.

"We would appeal to anyone who has information about our son to contact the police."